Title : A one health investigation of bacterial hazards in shrimp sold across Cameroon
Abstract:
Shrimp remains one of the most globally traded seafood commodities, yet in Cameroon, food safety challenges continue to threaten both public health and export viability. In 2009, the European Union suspended fishery imports from Cameroon due to non-compliance with hygiene standards, highlighting systemic gaps in post-harvest practices. As domestic shrimp consumption rises, the presence of zoonotic pathogens in the local supply chain has emerged as a critical concern.
This study presents a One Health investigation into bacterial hazards detected in shrimp sold across Cameroonian markets, particularly Penaeus monodon and Penaeus notialis. In May 2025, the National Veterinary Laboratory (LANAVET), Douala Annex, identified Salmonella enterica in market samples using ISO 6579-2:2017 protocols and API20E biochemical profiling (Batch No: 1010794970). Building on this, a collaborative initiative with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2023 employed metagenomic sequencing via the Ion S5 platform to detect multiple bacterial species in shrimp samples from Kribi and Douala, confirming the recurrent presence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica.
The detection of multidrug-resistant Salmonella spp. in these products—echoing findings from ready-to-eat shrimp in Nigeria (Beshiru et al., 2019)—underscores the urgent need to integrate molecular diagnostics with routine seafood surveillance. Beyond immediate health risks, these microbial hazards pose broader threats to food security, consumer trust, and trade reauthorization with international partners.
This work emphasizes the necessity of implementing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), enhancing informal market oversight, and advancing bacterial monitoring systems in aquaculture. By adopting a One Health framework, the study advocates for cross-sector collaboration to safeguard aquatic ecosystems, improve public health outcomes, and rebuild Cameroon's seafood export credibility.
Keywords: One Health, Salmonella enterica, Shrimp, Penaeus monodon, Penaeus notialis, Metagenomics, Antimicrobial resistance, Food safety, Cameroon.
